U.S. patent number 10,049,650 [Application Number 15/275,252] was granted by the patent office on 2018-08-14 for ultra-wide band (uwb) radio-based object sensing.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Intel Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is INTEL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Manan Goel, Suresh V. Golwalkar, Swarnendu Kar, Lakshman Krishnamurthy, Saurin Shah, Francis M. Tharappel.
United States Patent |
10,049,650 |
Goel , et al. |
August 14, 2018 |
Ultra-wide band (UWB) radio-based object sensing
Abstract
The present disclosure describes a number of embodiments related
to devices, systems, and methods locating a an object using
ultra-wide band (UWB) radio transceivers embedded in carpet or
other flexible material that may be rolled up and moved to various
locations. Once in a location, the carpet may be unrolled and the
multiple embedded radio transceivers may receive a signal from a
tag attached to the object sending UWB radio signals. Based on the
signals received by the UWB radio transceivers, various processes
including time-difference on arrival, time-of-flight, and phase
shift may be used to determine the location or the movement of the
object.
Inventors: |
Goel; Manan (Hillsboro, OR),
Shah; Saurin (Portland, OR), Krishnamurthy; Lakshman
(Portland, OR), Tharappel; Francis M. (Portland, OR),
Kar; Swarnendu (Hillsboro, OR), Golwalkar; Suresh V.
(Chandler, AZ) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INTEL CORPORATION |
Santa Clara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Intel Corporation (Santa Clara,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
61685599 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/275,252 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180090112 A1 |
Mar 29, 2018 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
7/10425 (20130101); G10H 1/0555 (20130101); G06K
7/10306 (20130101); G10H 1/0008 (20130101); G10H
2220/321 (20130101); G10H 2220/461 (20130101); G10H
2220/341 (20130101); G10H 2230/281 (20130101); G10H
2250/435 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G10H
1/00 (20060101); G06K 7/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;84/743 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Kencl, L.,et al. and Pennock, S., et al "A System for Radio
Tracking of Team-Sports Players," 6th International Conference on
the Engineering of Sport, Jul. 11, 2006-Jul. 14, 2006. cited by
applicant .
Van Poucke, B., et al., "Ultra-Wideband Communication for Low-Power
Wireless Body Area Networks," RSC #15 .COPYRGT.
www.industrial-embedded.com/rsc, In d u s t r i a l E m d b e d d e
d S y s t e m s R e s o u r c e G u i d e, 2005. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Warren; David
Assistant Examiner: Schreiber; Christina
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt,
P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for sensing an object, comprising: a layer of
material; and a plurality of ultra-wideband, UWB, radio sensors
integrated within the layer of material at various locations,
wherein individual UWB radio sensors are to: receive first signals,
which are UWB radio signals transmitted from a device attached to
an object within a sensing distance of the layer of material, and
transmit second signals based on receipt of the first signals,
wherein the second signals are used to determine by another device
a location of the object relative to the layer of material.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the layer of material is
flexible.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the layer of material is
portable.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the layer of material is a
carpet, and wherein the individual UWB radio sensors are embedded
in the carpet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first UWB radio sensor of
the plurality of UWB radio sensors includes a UWB radio antenna
coupled with a receiver, wherein the first UWB radio sensor is a
flexible circuit.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UWB radio
sensors are positioned within the layer of material in a grid
pattern or in a radial pattern.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second signal is
transmitted via Wi-Fi, UWB radio, Bluetooth.TM., universal serial
bus, USB, or Ethernet.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device attached to the
object further includes a tag attached to the object.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of UWB radio
sensors are coupled to a UWB controller to receive multiple second
signals from the plurality of UWB radio sensors.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the UWB controller is to
determine the location of the object based upon the received
multiple second signals from the plurality of UWB radio
sensors.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein to determine the location of
the object is further to determine a position of the object as
projected onto the layer of material.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is a plurality of
objects.
13. A system for sensing an object, comprising: one or more
computer processors; memory coupled to the one or more computer
processors; and a sensing module, to be loaded onto the memory and
executed by the one or more processors, to sense an object relative
to a plurality of ultra-wideband, UWB, radio sensors integrated
within a layer of flexible material, wherein the plurality of UWB
radio sensors receive a first UWB radio signal from the object; and
wherein the sensing module is to: receive, from the plurality of
UWB radio sensors, a plurality of second signals based upon the
first UWB radio signal received by the UWB radio sensors;
determine, based upon the plurality of received second signals, a
location of the object or a movement of the object with respect to
the layer of material; and output the determined location of the
object or the determined movement of the object with respect to the
layer of material.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein a tag affixed to the object is
to send the first UWB radio signal.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the object is a hand of a user;
and wherein the sensing module is further to play or cause to play
a sound corresponding to the determined location of the hand or the
determined movement of the hand.
16. A method for sensing an object relative to a flexible layer of
material, comprising receiving, by a computing system, from a
plurality of ultra-wide band, UWB, radio sensors within the
flexible layer of material, a plurality of second signals based
upon a first UWB radio signal received from a tag affixed to the
object; determining, by the computing system, based upon the
plurality of received second signals, a location of the object or a
movement of the object with respect to the layer of material; and
outputting, by the computing system, the determined location of the
object or the determined movement of the object with respect to the
layer of material.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein a tag affixed to the object is
to send the first UWB radio signal.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the object is a hand of a user;
and wherein the method further comprises playing or causing to
play, by the computing system, a sound corresponding to the
determined location of the hand or the determined movement of the
hand.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determined movement is a
tap.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein playing or causing to play a
sound comprises playing or causing to play a drum sound.
21. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions
that cause a computing device, in response to execution of the
instructions by the computing device, to: receive, by a sensing
module operating on a computing system, from a plurality of
ultra-wide band, UWB, radio sensors within a flexible layer of
material, a plurality of second signals based upon a first UWB
radio signal received by the UWB radio sensors; determine, by the
sensing module operating on the computing system, based upon the
plurality of received second signals, a location of an object or a
movement of the object with respect to the layer of material; and
output, by the sensing module operating on the computing system,
the determined location of the object or the determined movement of
the object with respect to the flexible layer of material.
22. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein a
tag affixed to the object is to send the first UWB radio
signal.
23. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 21, wherein
the object is a hand of a user; and wherein the instructions are
further to play or cause to play, by the sensing module operating
on the computing system, a sound corresponding to the determined
location of the hand or the determined movement of the hand.
24. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 23, wherein
the determined movement is a tap.
25. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 23, wherein to
play or to cause to play a sound further comprises to play or cause
to play a drum sound.
Description
FIELD
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field
of object sensing. More specifically, embodiments of the present
disclosure relate to devices and methods for using ultra-wideband
(UWB) radio transceivers within a flexible layer of material to
determine the position of an object relative to the surface of the
material.
BACKGROUND
Over the last several years it has become increasingly desirable to
integrate physical activities along with digital representations of
those activities. For example, physical activities typically
involve the movement of physical objects, and these objects may
have specialized hardware or other features that may facilitate
identifying the location of the object relative to other objects.
This may be true of a wide variety of activities including music,
sports, demonstrations, navigation, and the like. Integrating
digital representations may typically involve a lot of preparation
time setting up the infrastructure to capture the digital
representations of the various objects during the activity. This
preparation may include setting up and calibrating various
mechanisms within an infrastructure that is used to track objects
during the activities. Moving and recalibrating this infrastructure
in legacy systems used to capture digital representations of
activities is typically cumbersome and challenging.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed
description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To
facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like
structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example
and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying
drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example flexible UWB sensor with an
antenna and a transceiver suitable for use to practice the present
disclosure, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example partially rolled carpet with a grid
of UWB sensors embedded within the carpet in an array, in
accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 3A illustrates an example carpet with a grid of UWB sensors
embedded within the carpet in a radial pattern, in accordance with
some embodiments.
FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section of an example carpet with UWB
sensors embedded, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a plurality of UWB sensors that are
connected to a server, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 5 illustrates tags on boxing gloves used over a mat containing
multiple UWB sensors, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 6 illustrates a drum set on a carpet containing UWB sensors to
capture a musical percussion performance, in accordance with some
embodiments.
FIG. 7 illustrates an example flexible play mat containing a
plurality of UWB sensors used to guide a machine along a number of
determined paths along the floor, in accordance with some
embodiments.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example computing device suitable for use to
practice aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with
various embodiments.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrates a process for implementing a
flexible layer of material with embedded UWB sensors to determine
object position, in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating computer readable media having
instructions for practicing using a flexible layer of material with
embedded UWB sensors to determine object position, in accordance
with some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for sensing objects with multiple
UWB radio sensors are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a flexible
layer of material, such as a carpet, may be rolled up and moved
from location to location, and deployed at the various locations at
different points in time. The flexible layer of material may
include multiple UWB radio sensors embedded therein. The multiple
UWB radio sensors may receive a UWB radio signal from a tag
attached to an object proximally disposed with the flexible layer
of materials. In embodiments, a server may use information
aggregated from the multiple UWB radio sensors and apply various
processes to determine the location or the movement of the object
to which the tag is affixed. These processes may include, in
non-limiting examples, time-difference on arrival, time-of-flight,
and phase shift processing based on received signals by the UWB
sensors.
In the following description, various aspects of the illustrative
implementations are described using terms commonly employed by
those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to
others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may
be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes
of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
illustrative implementations. However, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may
be practiced without the specific details. In other instances,
well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to
obscure the illustrative implementations.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings that form a part hereof, wherein like numerals designate
like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way of illustration
embodiments in which the subject matter of the present disclosure
may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may
be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the
following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A and/or B"
means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present
disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and
B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).
The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as
top/bottom, in/out, over/under, and the like. Such descriptions are
merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to
restrict the application of embodiments described herein to any
particular orientation.
The description may use the phrases "in an embodiment," or "in
embodiments," which may each refer to one or more of the same or
different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms "including,"
"having," and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the
present disclosure, are synonymous.
The terms "coupled with" and "coupled to" and the like may be used
herein. "Coupled" may mean one or more of the following. "Coupled"
may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or
electrical contact. However, "coupled" may also mean that two or
more elements indirectly contact each other, but yet still
cooperate or interact with each other, and may mean that one or
more other elements are coupled or connected between the elements
that are said to be coupled with each other. By way of example and
not limitation, "coupled" may mean two or more elements or devices
are coupled by electrical connections on a printed circuit board
such as a motherboard, for example. By way of example and not
limitation, "coupled" may mean two or more elements/devices
cooperate and/or interact through one or more network linkages such
as wired and/or wireless networks. By way of example and not
limitation, a computing apparatus may include two or more computing
devices "coupled" on a motherboard or by one or more network
linkages.
Various operations are described as multiple discrete operations in
turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed
subject matter. However, the order of description should not be
construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order
dependent.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a flexible UWB sensor with an antenna and a
transceiver, in accordance with some embodiments. Diagram 100 shows
an embodiment of a flexible UWB sensor which may include a
transceiver/antenna combination. In embodiments, the flexible UWB
sensor 100 may include a transceiver 102 that is connected to an
antenna 104, and may be coupled to the transceiver 102 by a
connector 106. In embodiments, the connector 106 may be flexible
connection that may allow the antenna 104 to bend and/or flex in
any of the three dimensions with respect to transceiver 102. The
antenna 104 may include wiring 104a that may be used to receive UWB
radio signals from a UWB radio transmission source (not shown). In
embodiments, the transceiver 102, connector 106, an antenna 104 may
be implemented as a flexible circuit and embedded within a flexible
material 101. In embodiments, the electronic hardware components
may be flattened, and may be connected using a flexible polymer
such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or some other flexible
substrate. In embodiments the antenna 104 may be miniaturized to a
chip, or a wire antenna may be used. For example a flexible plastic
casing, that may be used to secure the position of the transceiver
102, connector 106 and antenna 104 as the flexible UWB sensor 100
is bent or flexed.
In embodiments, the transceiver 102 may be configured to receive
and process the UWB radio signals received from the antenna 104. In
embodiments, the transceiver 102 may process the received signals,
and send the processed signals to another system (not shown). In
embodiments, non-limiting examples of other system may include a
UWB master, described further in FIG. 4, or a server, described
further in FIG. 8. In embodiments, the transceiver 102 may send the
processed signals over an Ethernet connection 108. In other
embodiments, some other connection may be used such as a universal
serial bus (USB), FireWire.TM. or other physical connection. In
other embodiments, the transceiver 102 may communicate using a
wireless connection such as Wi-Fi.
The transceiver 102 may receive information from a tag (not shown)
that may be connected to an object to be sensed. In embodiments,
the tag may transmit UWB radio signals that are picked up by the
flexible UWB sensor 100 using antenna 104. In embodiments, a tag
may transmit other data, for example data from inertial measurement
unit (IMU) sensors coupled with the tag that may include data of
metrics collected and/or calculated, for example speed, velocity,
acceleration, deceleration, deceleration intensity, deceleration
rate, and the like. This data may be received by the flexible UWB
sensor 100, processed, and transmitted to, for example, a server
for processing. Non-limiting examples of uses of this data may
include for boxing, which is further described in FIG. 5 and for
playing the drums, which is further described in FIG. 6.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example flexible layer of material, a
partially rolled carpet, with a grid of UWB sensors embedded within
the carpet in an array, in accordance with some embodiments.
Diagram 200 shows an example of a flexible layer of material 210.
In non-limiting examples, the flexible layer of material 210 may be
a carpet, a rug, artificial grass, Astroturf.TM., and the like. In
embodiments, individual UWB sensors 201, which may be similar to
flexible UWB sensors 100 of FIG. 1, may be embedded into a
determined location within the layer of material 210. In
embodiments, UWB sensors 201 may be UWB sensors, having a
transceiver, an antenna and connector that are not embedded in a
flexible material (not shown).
Diagram 200 shows an example of an array of UWB sensors 201 laid
out in a rectangular pattern. In embodiments, as the flexible layer
of material 210 may be rolled up and unrolled, or folded and
unfolded, the location of the UWB sensors 201 relative to each
other will remain substantially constant. In embodiments, other
components may be embedded into the material 210, including wiring
(not shown) that connects the UWB sensors 201 to provide data
and/or power connection, and UWB masters (not shown) that may
service aggregation points for the data sent from UWB sensors 201.
UWB masters are further described in FIG. 4.
In embodiments, the flexible layer of material 210 may be laid flat
onto a flat surface. In embodiments, the flexible layer of material
210 may be customized into various shapes and sizes depending upon
the object-sensing application. As shown in diagram 200, the UWB
sensors 201 may be laid out in a regular grid pattern.
FIG. 3A illustrates an example carpet with a grid of UWB sensors
embedded within the carpet in a radial pattern, in accordance with
some embodiments. Diagram 300 shows a flexible layer of material
310, which may be similar to the flexible layer of material 210 of
FIG. 2, with the plurality of UWB sensors 301, which may be similar
to UWB sensor 101 of FIG. 1. In accordance with some embodiments,
the UWB sensors 301 may be laid out in a radial pattern as shown. A
UWB sensor 301a may be placed in the center of the radial pattern,
with additional UWB sensors 301 distributed along radial lines
312a, 312b, 312c and 312d.
In embodiments, during operation a tag 314 proximate to the
flexible layer of material 310 may broadcast UWB radio signals 314a
that may be received by the one or more UWB sensors 301. In
embodiments, a tag 314 may be affixed to an object (not shown). In
embodiments, the UWB sensors 301 may generate a second set of
signals based upon the received UWB radio signals and send the
second set of signals to a server 318 to which the UWB sensors 301
are coupled.
In embodiments, the server 318 may take these received second set
of signals and process them to determine the location of the object
314 in relation to the flexible layer of material 310. In
embodiments, the server may use various processes including
time-difference on arrival, time-of-flight, and phase shift to
estimate the location of the tag 314. In embodiments, the tag 314
may be affixed to an object (not shown), and therefore determining
the location of tag 314 may be used to determine the location of
the object relative to the flexible layer of material 310. In
embodiments, the location of the tag 314 relative to the flexible
layer of material 310 may be an orthogonal projection of the
location of the tag 314 onto the X-Y plane of the flexible layer of
material 314b.
FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-section of an example carpet with UWB
sensors embedded, in accordance with some embodiments. Diagram 360
shows a cross-section of a carpet 310 into which two UWB sensors
301 are embedded (shown in a side view). In embodiments, the
interior 310a of the carpet 310 may be made of fibers, foam, or
other material that is flexible while firmly holding UWB sensors
301 in place so they do not substantially shift positions when the
carpet 310 is rolled up, carried two new location, and unrolled. In
embodiments, there may be additional threads (not shown) that
connect the multiple UWB sensors 301 to allow them to stay in a
uniform position.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a plurality of UWB sensors that are coupled
to a server, in accordance with some embodiments. Diagram 400 shows
one embodiment of a coupled configuration of UWB sensors 401, which
may be similar to UWB sensor 201 of FIG. 2. In embodiments, one or
more UWB sensors 401 may be coupled directly to a server 414, which
may be similar to server 314 of FIG. 3A. In alternative
embodiments, one or more UWB sensors 401 may be coupled to a UWB
master, 416, which may then be coupled with the server 414.
In embodiments, the server 414 may be connected to a laptop 418 or
other computing device (such as a desktop, or a tablet) to display
information related to the location and/or the movement of the
object or to otherwise process the location and/or the movement of
the object. In embodiments, a portion or all of the processing of
signals 314a from a tag 314 to one or more UWB sensors 401 may be
done within a UWB master 416 or the within the server 414.
FIG. 5 illustrates tags on boxing gloves used over a mat containing
multiple UWB sensors, in accordance with some embodiments. Diagram
500 shows one embodiment of using multiple UWB sensors 501 embedded
within a flexible layer of material 510, which may be similar to
the flexible layer of material 310 of FIG. 3A, which may serve as
the mat of a boxing ring. A first boxer 520 wearing boxing gloves
522a, 522b, and a second boxer 524 wearing boxing gloves 526a, 526b
may be in a boxing match. UWB tags (not shown) attached to the
boxing gloves 522a, 522b, 526a, 526b may send UWB signals, such as
signals 314a of FIG. 3A, that are received by multiple UWB sensors
501. The UWB sensors 501 may subsequently transmit a second signal
to a server, for example server 318 of FIG. 3A, for further
processing to determine the location and the movement of the boxing
gloves 522a, 522b, 526a, 526b.
In embodiments, the tags affixed to the boxing gloves 522a, 522b,
526a, 526b may be coupled to IMU sensors to provide additional data
on the location and/or movement of the tags that may be sent to the
multiple UWB sensors 501. For example, this data may be used to
determine, in non-limiting examples, information about a punch or a
block, including the type of the puncher block, speed, velocity,
acceleration, strike intensity, strike rate, and whether the strike
was sent on offensive versus the defensive strike, and the like. In
embodiments, this information may also be provided by analyzing a
sequence of locations of the tags affixed to the boxing gloves
522a, 522b, 526a, 526b over discreet periods of time.
In embodiments, other sports besides boxing may be digitally
augmented by using UWB sensors 501 embedded within a flexible layer
of material 510 on which the sport may be played. In non-limiting
examples, the sports may include soccer, rugby, handball, and the
like.
FIG. 6 illustrates a drum set on a flexible layer of material
containing UWB sensors to capture a musical percussion performance,
in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 600 shows a drum set with
areas where various virtual drums and/or cymbals may be located. In
embodiments, a user may unroll the carpet 610, which may be similar
to the flexible layer of material 210 that contains multiple UWB
sensors similar to UWB sensors 301 of FIG. 3A.
In embodiments, a user 630 may stand on the carpet 610 while
wearing a UWB tag wristband 630a, 630b. In embodiments, the
position of the tag wristband 630a, 630b with respect to the carpet
610 may be sensed. In embodiments, the area above the carpet 610
may be logically divided into multiple zones 632a-632e, each of
which may, for example, correspond to a particular percussion
instrument. In embodiments, each zone 632a-632e may be mapped to a
unique sound such that when the user 630 taps their hand in a zone
632a-632e, a corresponding sound may be played. In embodiments, the
sounds that are played may be customized through a software
application coupled to a server, such as server 314 of FIG. 3A.
In embodiments, aids may be used to help the user 630 identify the
location of the multiple zones 632a-632e. In one example, an
overlay (not shown) may be placed on the carpet 610 to visually
indicate the location of each zone that extends in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the carpet 610.
FIG. 7 illustrates an example flexible play mat containing a
plurality of UWB sensors used to guide a child along a number of
determined paths along the rolled-out play mat, in accordance with
some embodiments. Diagram 700 shows a flexible layer of material
710, which may be similar to the flexible layer material 310 of
FIG. 3A. UWB sensors 701, which may be similar to UWB sensors 301
of FIG. 3A, may be embedded into the flexible layer material 710.
In embodiments, the flexible layer material 710 may be deployed in
a school, a preschool, or other such environment, where the
flexible layer of material 710 may be a carpet rolled out on the
floor.
A child 740 may wear a UWB tag 714, which may be similar to UWB tag
314 of FIG. 3A, proximate to the person 740 that transmits UWB
radio signals, such as radio signals 314a of FIG. 3A. These signals
are received by a plurality of UWB sensors 701 that may then send
second signals to a server 718, which may be similar to server 318
of FIG. 3A the server 318 may then processes the received signals
and may then determine the location and/or the movement of the user
740 with respect to the flexible layer material 710.
In embodiments, there may be one or more paths 742 for the child
740 to follow while the child 740 walks across the flexible layer
material 710. For example, the child 740 may wish to be directed to
a prize 744. The server 718 may then send directions to the child
740 to allow them to navigate the path 742. In other embodiments,
the child 740 may be a vehicle or other object that is to be moved
along one or more paths 742. In embodiments, the flexible layer of
material 710 may be used on the ceiling to sense the child or
object 740.
In embodiments, as the child 740 progresses along the flexible
layer material 710, the server 718 may determine, based upon an
analysis of the current location of the child 740 or of previous
locations of the child 740, whether the child 740 may be on a
desirable or a non-desirable. In embodiments, the server may store
the location of one or more desirable paths or locations, or may
store metadata describing one or more desirable paths or locations
742.
In embodiments, the server 718 may indicate, or may cause to
indicate, feedback to the child 740 on its progress. For example,
the feedback may include audio feedback to speakers controlled by
the server 718 and proximate to the child 740. In other examples,
the feedback may include visual feedback, such as through a display
or through lights (not shown) that may be in that it in the
flexible layer of material 710.
In embodiments, two or more areas of flexible layer material 310
may be positioned in a non-parallel manner (not shown), for example
two separate carpets having UWB sensors 701 embedded into the
carpets. In non-limiting examples, these carpets may be positioned
and an orthogonal manner, such as one on the floor and one along
and adjacent vertical wall. In these positions, X-Y location
determinations of a UWB tag made by the sensors in the respective
carpets may be used to determine the location of the UWB tag in
three-dimensional space.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example computing device 800 suitable for use
to practice aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with
various embodiments. For example, the example computing device 800
may be suitable to implement the functionalities associated with
diagrams 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 900.
As shown, computing device 800 may include one or more processors
802, each having one or more processor cores, and system memory
804. The processor 802 may include any type of unicore or
multi-core processors. Each processor core may include a central
processing unit (CPU), and one or more level of caches. The
processor 802 may be implemented as an integrated circuit. The
computing device 800 may include mass storage devices 806 (such as
diskette, hard drive, volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access
memory (DRAM)), compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), digital
versatile disk (DVD) and so forth). In general, system memory 804
and/or mass storage devices 806 may be temporal and/or persistent
storage of any type, including, but not limited to, volatile and
non-volatile memory, optical, magnetic, and/or solid state mass
storage, and so forth. Volatile memory may include, but not be
limited to, static and/or dynamic random access memory.
Non-volatile memory may include, but not be limited to,
electrically erasable programmable read only memory, phase change
memory, resistive memory, and so forth.
The computing device 800 may further include input/output (I/O)
devices 808 such as a display, keyboard, cursor control, remote
control, gaming controller, image capture device, one or more
three-dimensional cameras used to capture images, and so forth, and
communication interfaces 810 (such as network interface cards,
modems, infrared receivers, transceivers, radio receivers (e.g.,
UWB, Bluetooth), and so forth). I/O devices 808 may be suitable for
communicative connections with UWB sensors or UWB masters or user
devices. In some embodiments, I/O devices 808 when used as user
devices may include a UWB tag or other device necessary for
implementing the functionalities of determining the location and/or
movement of the UWB tag as described in reference to FIGS. 1-7.
The communication interfaces 810 may include communication chips
(not shown) that may be configured to operate the device 800 in
accordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM),
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),
Evolved HSPA (E-HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, or UWB
radio-based communication. The communication chips may also be
configured to operate in accordance with Enhanced Data for GSM
Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal
Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN),
or or UWB radio-based communication. The communication chips may be
configured to operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple
Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Digital
Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Evolution-Data
Optimized (EV-DO), derivatives thereof, as well as any other
wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond,
including UWB radio-based communication. The communication
interfaces 810 may operate in accordance with other wireless
protocols in other embodiments.
The above-described computing device 800 elements may be coupled to
each other via system bus 812, which may represent one or more
buses. In the case of multiple buses, they may be bridged by one or
more bus bridges (not shown). Each of these elements may perform
its conventional functions known in the art. In particular, system
memory 804 and mass storage devices 806 may be employed to store a
working copy and a permanent copy of the programming instructions
implementing the operations and functionalities associated with the
UWB master 416 and server 414 of diagram 400, generally shown as
computational logic 822. Computational logic 822 may be implemented
by assembler instructions supported by processor(s) 802 or
high-level languages that may be compiled into such
instructions.
In embodiments, the Computational Logic 822 may contain a sensing
module 850, which may perform one or more of the functions
associated with diagrams 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and
900.
The permanent copy of the programming instructions may be placed
into mass storage devices 806 in the factory, or in the field,
though, for example, a distribution medium (not shown), such as a
compact disc (CD), or through communication interfaces 810 (from a
distribution server (not shown)).
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrates a process for implementing a
UWB carpet to determine object position, in accordance with some
embodiments. In some embodiments, the UWB sensors 101 of FIG. 1,
the UWB tags 314 of FIG. 3A, the UWB master 416, the server 414 and
the laptop 418 FIG. 4 may perform one or more processes, such as
the process 900.
At block 902, the process may receive from a plurality of
ultra-wide band, UWB, sensors within the a layer of material, a
plurality of second signals based upon a first UWB radio signal
received from a UWB tag affixed to the object. In embodiments, the
first signals may be signals 314a sent by UWB tag 314 of FIG. 3A.
In embodiments, the second signals may be sent by UWB sensors 301
to server 318 of FIG. 3A. In embodiments, the second signals may be
sent wirelessly or through wired communications. In embodiments,
the layer of material 310 of FIG. 3A and may include UWB sensors
301 embedded within material 310.
At block 904, the process may determine based upon the plurality of
received second signals a location of the object or a movement of
the object with respect to the layer of material. In embodiments,
this determination may be performed by the server 318 upon
receiving the second signals from the UWB sensors 301. In
embodiments, the process may determine the location and/or movement
of the object by analyzing these respective second signals in
relationship to each other. In embodiments, this may include using
time-difference on arrival, time of flight, and phase shift
algorithms.
At block 906, the process may output the determined location of the
object or the determined movement of the object with respect to the
layer of material. In embodiments, the location of the object, such
as an object with UWB tag 314 affixed, may be determined based upon
an orthogonal projection of the object upon the layer of material
310 in a 2-D plane.
FIG. 10 is a diagram 1000 illustrating computer readable media 1002
having instructions for practicing the above-described techniques,
or for programming/causing systems and devices to perform the
above-described techniques, in accordance with various embodiments.
In some embodiments, such computer readable media 1002 may be
included in a memory or storage device, which may be transitory or
non-transitory, of the server 318 of FIG. 3A. In embodiments,
instructions 1004 may include assembler instructions supported by a
processing device, or may include instructions in a high-level
language, such as C, that can be compiled into object code
executable by the processing device. In some embodiments, a
persistent copy of the computer readable instructions 1004 may be
placed into a persistent storage device in the factory or in the
field (through, for example, a machine-accessible distribution
medium (not shown)). In some embodiments, a persistent copy of the
computer readable instructions 1004 may be placed into a persistent
storage device through a suitable communication pathway (e.g., from
a distribution server).
The corresponding structures, material, acts, and equivalents of
all means or steps plus function elements in the claims below are
intended to include any structure, material or act for performing
the function in combination with other claimed elements are
specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has
been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is
not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the
form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent
to those of ordinary skill without departing from the scope and
spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described
in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the
practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in
the art to understand the disclosure for embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
EXAMPLES
Examples, according to various embodiments, may include the
following.
Example 1 may be an apparatus for sensing an object, comprising: a
layer of material; and a plurality of ultra-wideband, UWB, radio
sensors integrated within the layer of material at various
locations, wherein individual UWB radio sensors are to receive
first signals, which are UWB radio signals, from an object
proximate to the layer of material and transmit second signals
based on receipt of the first signals.
Example 2 may include the apparatus of Example 1, wherein the layer
of material is flexible.
Example 3 may include the apparatus of Example 1, wherein the layer
of material is portable.
Example 4 may include the apparatus of Example 1, wherein the layer
of material is a carpet, and wherein the individual UWB radio
sensors are embedded in the carpet.
Example 5 may include the apparatus of any Examples 1-4, wherein a
first UWB radio sensor of the plurality of UWB radio sensors
includes a UWB radio antenna coupled with a receiver, wherein the
first UWB radio sensor is a flexible circuit.
Example 6 may include the apparatus of any Examples 1-4, wherein
the multiple UWB radio sensors are positioned within the layer of
material in a grid pattern or in a radial pattern.
Example 7 may include the apparatus of any Examples 1-4, wherein
the second signal is transmitted via Wi-Fi, UWB radio,
Bluetooth.TM., universal serial bus, USB, or Ethernet.
Example 8 may include the apparatus of any Examples 1-4, wherein
the multiple UWB radio sensors are to receive UWB signals from a
tag affixed to the object.
Example 9 may include the apparatus of any Examples 1-4, wherein
the multiple UWB radio sensors are coupled to a UWB controller to
receive multiple second signals from the multiple UWB sensors.
Example 10 may include the apparatus of Example 9, wherein the UWB
controller is to determine the location of the object based upon
the received multiple second signals from the multiple UWB
sensors.
Example 11 may include the apparatus of Example 10, wherein to
determine the position of the object is further to determine the
position of the object as projected onto the layer of material.
Example 12 may include the apparatus of any Examples 1-4, wherein
the object is a plurality of objects.
Example 13 may be a system for sensing an object, comprising: one
or more computer processors; memory coupled to the one or more
computer processors; and a sensing module, to be loaded onto the
memory and executed by the one or more processors, to sense an
object relative to a plurality of ultra-wideband, UWB, radio
sensors integrated within a layer of flexible material, wherein the
plurality of UWB radio sensors receive a first UWB radio signal
from the object; and wherein the sensing module is to: receive,
from the plurality of UWB radio sensors, a plurality of second
signals based upon the first UWB radio signal received by the UWB
radio sensors; determine, based upon the plurality of received
second signals a location of the object or a movement of the object
with respect to the layer of material; and output the determined
location of the object or the determined movement of the object
with respect to the layer of material.
Example 14 may include the system of Example 13, wherein a tag
affixed to the object is to send the first UWB radio signal.
Example 15 may include the system of Example 13, wherein the layer
of material includes an overlay that visually indicates one or more
locations with respect to the layer of material.
Example 16 may include the system of Examples 13-15, wherein the
object is a hand of a user; and wherein the sensing module is
further to play or cause to play a sound corresponding to the
determined location of the hand or the determined movement of the
hand.
Example 17 may include the system of Example 16, wherein the
determined movement is a tap.
Example 18 may include the system of Example 16, wherein play or
cause to play a sound comprises play or cause to play a drum
sound.
Example 19 may include the system of any Examples 13-15, wherein
the object is a plurality of limbs of a user; and wherein the
sensing module is further to determine, based on the received
second signals, the location or movement of the one or more limbs
of the user.
Example 20 may include the system of Example 19, wherein the
sensing module is further to determine a speed, velocity,
acceleration, strike intensity, or strike rate of the one or more
limbs of the user based upon the movement of the one or more limbs
of the user.
Example 21 may include the system of Example 19, wherein a
plurality of tags are affixed to respectively to the one or more
limbs of the user; wherein each of the plurality of tags further
includes an inertial measurement unit, IMU, sensor; and wherein the
sensing module is further to: receive data from the IMU sensor; and
output the received the data from the IMU sensor.
Example 22 may include the apparatus of Example 21, wherein the
user is performing the sport of boxing.
Example 23 may include the system of any Examples 13-15, wherein
the sensing module is further to: determine a navigation command
based upon the determined location or the determined movement of
the object with respect to the layer of material and a map; and
send or cause to send a navigation indication to the object.
Example 24 may include the system of Example 23, wherein the
navigation indication is a location, a direction of movement, or a
speed of movement.
Example 25 may include the system of Example 23, wherein the system
is to guide the object through a predetermined path.
Example 26 may include the system of Example 23, wherein the layer
of material is on a floor or on a ceiling.
Example 27 may include the system of Example 23, wherein the object
is a human or a machine.
Example 28 may be a method for sensing an object relative to a
flexible layer of material, comprising receiving, by a computing
system, from a plurality of ultra-wide band, UWB, sensors within
the flexible layer of material, a plurality of second signals based
upon a first UWB radio signal received from a tag affixed to the
object; determining, by the computing system, based upon the
plurality of received second signals a location of the object or a
movement of the object with respect to the layer of material; and
outputting, by the computing system, the determined location of the
object or the determined movement of the object with respect to the
layer of material.
Example 29 may include the method of Example 28, wherein a tag
affixed to the object is to send the first UWB radio signal.
Example 30 may include the method of Example 28, wherein the layer
of material includes an overlay that visually indicates one or more
locations with respect to the layer of material.
Example 31 may include the method of any Examples 28-30, wherein
the object is a hand of a user; and wherein the method further
comprises playing or causing to play, by the computing system, a
sound corresponding to the determined location of the hand or the
determined movement of the hand.
Example 32 may include the method of Example 31, wherein the
determined movement is a tap.
Example 33 may include the method of Example 31, wherein playing or
causing to play a sound comprises play or cause to play a drum
sound.
Example 34 may include the method of any one of Examples 28-30,
wherein the object is a plurality of limbs of a user; and wherein
the method further comprises determining, based on the received
second signals, the location or movement of the one or more limbs
of the user.
Example 35 may include the method of Example 34, further comprising
determining a speed, velocity, acceleration, strike intensity, or
strike rate of the one or more limbs of the user based upon the
movement of the one or more limbs of the user.
Example 36 may include the method of Example 34, wherein a
plurality of tags are affixed to respectively to the one or more
limbs of the user; wherein each of the plurality of tags further
includes an inertial measurement unit, IMU, sensor; and wherein the
method further comprises: receiving, by the computing system, data
from the IMU sensor; and outputting, by the computing system, the
received the data from the IMU sensor.
Example 37 may include the method of Example 36, wherein the user
is performing the sport of boxing.
Example 38 may include the method of any one of Examples 28-30,
further comprising: determining, by the computing system, a
navigation command based upon the determined location or the
determined movement of the object with respect to the layer of
material and a map; and sending or causing to send a navigation
indication to the object.
Example 39 may include the method of Example 38, wherein the
navigation indication is a location, a direction of movement, or a
speed of movement.
Example 40 may include the method of Example 38, wherein the method
is to guide the object through a predetermined path.
Example 41 may include the method of Example 38, wherein the layer
of material is on a floor or on a ceiling.
Example 42 may include the method of Example 38, wherein the object
is a human or a machine.
Example 43 may be one or more computer-readable media comprising
instructions that cause a computing device, in response to
execution of the instructions by the computing device, to: receive,
by a sensing module operating on a computing system, from a
plurality of ultra-wide band, UWB, radio sensors within a flexible
layer of material, a plurality of second signals based upon a first
UWB radio signal received by the UWB radio sensors; determine, by
the sensing module operating on the computing system, based upon
the plurality of received second signals a location of an object or
a movement of the object with respect to the layer of material; and
output, by the sensing module operating on the computing system,
the determined location of the object or the determined movement of
the object with respect to the flexible layer of material.
Example 44 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 43, wherein a tag affixed to the object is to send the
first UWB radio signal.
Example 45 may include the method of Example 43, wherein the layer
of material includes an overlay that visually indicates one or more
locations with respect to the layer of material.
Example 46 may include one or more computer readable media of any
Examples 43-45, wherein the object is a hand of a user; and wherein
the instructions are further to play or cause to play, by the
sensing module operating on the computing system, a sound
corresponding to the determined location of the hand or the
determined movement of the hand.
Example 47 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 46, wherein the determined movement is a tap.
Example 48 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 46, wherein to play or to cause to play a sound further
comprises to play or cause to play a drum sound.
Example 49 may include one or more computer readable media of any
Examples 43-45, wherein the object is a plurality of limbs of a
user; and wherein the instructions are further to determine, by the
sensing module operating on the computing system, based on the
received second signals, the location or movement of the one or
more limbs of the user.
Example 50 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 44, wherein the instructions are further to determine, by
the sensing module operating on the computing system, a speed,
velocity, acceleration, strike intensity, or strike rate of the one
or more limbs of the user based upon the movement of the one or
more limbs of the user.
Example 51 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 50, wherein a plurality of tags are affixed to respectively
to the one or more limbs of the user; wherein each of the plurality
of tags further includes an inertial measurement unit, IMU, sensor;
and wherein the instructions are further to: receive, by the
sensing module operating on the computing system, data from the IMU
sensor; and output, by the sensing module operating on the
computing system, the received the data from the IMU sensor.
Example 52 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 51, wherein the user is performing the sport of boxing.
Example 53 may include one or more computer readable media of any
Examples 43-45, wherein the instructions are further to: determine,
by the sensing module operating on the computing system, a
navigation command based upon the determined location or the
determined movement of the object with respect to the layer of
material and a map; and send or cause to send, by the sensing
module operating on the computing system, a navigation indication
to the object.
Example 54 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 53, wherein the navigation indication is a location, a
direction of movement, or a speed of movement.
Example 55 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 53, wherein the computing system is to guide the object
through a predetermined path.
Example 56 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 53, wherein the layer of material is on a floor or on a
ceiling.
Example 57 may include one or more computer readable media of
Example 53, wherein the object is a human or a machine.
Example 58 may be an apparatus comprising: means for receiving,
from a plurality of ultra-wide band, UWB, sensors within the layer
of material, a plurality of second signals based upon a first UWB
radio signal received from a tag affixed to the object; means for
determining based upon the plurality of received second signals a
location of the object or a movement of the object with respect to
the layer of material; and means for outputting the determined
location of the object or the determined movement of the object
with respect to the layer of material.
Example 59 may include the apparatus of Example 58, wherein a tag
affixed to the object is to send the first UWB radio signal.
Example 60 may include the method of Example 59, wherein the layer
of material includes an overlay that visually indicates one or more
locations with respect to the layer of material.
Example 61 may include the apparatus of any one of Examples 58-60,
wherein the object is a hand of a user; and the apparatus further
comprising means for playing or causing to play a sound
corresponding to the determined location of the hand or the
determined movement of the hand.
Example 62 may include the apparatus of Example 61, wherein the
determined movement is a tap.
Example 63 may include the apparatus of Example 61, wherein playing
or causing to play a sound comprises play or cause to play a drum
sound.
Example 64 may include the apparatus of any one of Examples 58-60,
wherein the object is a plurality of limbs of a user; and the
apparatus further comprising means for determining, based on the
received second signals, the location or movement of the one or
more limbs of the user.
Example 65 may include the apparatus of Example 64, the apparatus
further comprising means for determining a speed, velocity,
acceleration, strike intensity, or strike rate of the one or more
limbs of the user based upon the movement of the one or more limbs
of the user.
Example 66 may include the apparatus of Example 64, wherein a
plurality of tags are affixed to respectively to the one or more
limbs of the user; wherein each of the plurality of tags further
includes an inertial measurement unit, IMU, sensor; and the
apparatus further comprising: means for receiving data from the IMU
sensor; and means for outputting the received the data from the IMU
sensor.
Example 67 may include the apparatus of Example 66, wherein the
user is performing the sport of boxing.
Example 68 may include the apparatus of any one of Examples 58-60,
further comprising: means for determining a navigation command
based upon the determined location or the determined movement of
the object with respect to the layer of material and a map; and
means for sending or causing to send a navigation indication to the
object.
Example 69 may include the apparatus of Example 68, wherein the
navigation indication is a location, a direction of movement, or a
speed of movement.
Example 70 may include the apparatus of Example 68, wherein the
apparatus is to guide the object through a predetermined path.
Example 71 may include the apparatus of Example 68, wherein the
layer of material is on a floor or on a ceiling.
Example 72 may include the apparatus of Example 68, wherein the
object is a human or a machine.
* * * * *
References